Closure for vacuum cleaner bags



June 4, 1935. J. w. MEEK CLOSURE FOR VACUUM CLEANER BAGS Filed Feb. 27, 1933' Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE of one-half to Lena Wash.

H. Walton, Deer Park,

Application February 2'1, 1933, Serial No. 658,873

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a closure for vacuum cleaner bags, and bags of similar character, and has for its object the production of a simple and eflicient means for facilitating the opening and closing of a vacuum cleaner bag throughout its entire length so as to facilitate the removal of dust and dirt from the interior of the bag, and to permit free access to the inner wall of the bag in order that the foreign accumulation such as dust, dirt, and the like, may be readily removed from the inner face of the bag without the necessity of detaching the bag from the vacuum cleaner.

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient vacuum cleaner bag which is provided with a closure element extending longitudinally of one side thereof which closure element is so constructed as to permit the bag to be fully opened for approximately its entire length to permit free access to the inner surface of the bag for the purpose 'of cleaning.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a vacuum cleaner or other bag of similar type, having an opening extending substantially throughout its entire length along one side, the opening being secured by a hookless fastener and the bag being provided with overlapping flaps extending along the inner face of the bag just behind the hookless fastener to constitute an efficient seal, and thereby prevent the blowing of dust out through the hookless fastener while the cleaner is in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent throughout the following specification and claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the vacuum cleaner showing the improved bag attached thereto;

Figure 2 is an edge elevation of the vacuum Figure 3 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner bag, the upper end of which is shown partly open;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective sectional view through the hookless fastener and showing the mounting of the sealing flaps which extend longitudinally behind the inner face of the hookless fastener within the interior bf the bag.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that l designates a vacuum cleaner of the conventional type to which is secured in the conventional manner as is common to the trade, a

fabric or other type of vacuum cleaner bag indicated by the numeral 2. This bag 2 is provided with an open upper end 3 which upper end is normally closed by means of the suitable closure clip 4 of the well-known and conventional type. The bag 2 is preferably of an elongated type and is provided along one side edge with a longitudinally extending slit 5 which preferably extends throughout substantially the entire length of the bag along one side thereof and preferably along the side opposite the point of connection of the bag with the vacuum cleaner proper. The edges of the opening 5 of the bag 2 are preferably folded back to provide a reinforcing flap 6, and a pair of overlapping. flaps I are secured to the inner face of the bag 2 adjacent the longitudinally extending slit or opening 5, the flaps I being so arranged as to overlap and completely seal the opening when the edges of the opening 5 are brought into contacting or locking position. The flaps 1 are preferably secured to the inner face of the bag 2 by means of a row of stitching 8 located at a point spaced from the edge of the opening 5 so as to permit the flaps l to conveniently overlap without crowding under the slit or opening 5, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

A hookless fastener 9 of the conventional type is secured to the outer face of the bag 2 adjacent the slit or opening 5, and is adapted to completely close the opening when desired. The'hookless fastener 9 extends throughout the entire length of the slit 5 and throughout the entire length of the bag so as to permit the bag to be completely opened for substantially its entire length when desired and thereby permit access to the inner wall or face I!) of the bag 2 when desired for the purpose of cleaning or removing the accumulated dust, dirt, or other matter from the inner wall or face III. In Figure 3, the hookless fastener is shown only partially open but it is obvious that the fastener may be moved down to the lowermost end of the bag, if desired, thereby at once freeing the bag along one side edge and this will permit the bag to be partially turned inside out where the inner face In may be easily and efficiently cleaned by brushing or in any other manner removing the accumulation of matter from the bag.

By means of this particular structure, it will be obvious that the cleaning of a vacuum cleaner bag 2 will be greatly facilitated and due to the fact that the irmer face of the bag may be completely and easily cleaned, the vacuum cleaner will be permitted to more readily and efllciently function since a stronger suction may be obtained through the bag when it is kept in a thoroughly clean condition. The cleaning may be accomplished in a minimum amount of time without injury to the bag, and without the necessity of removing the bag from the cleaner I.

It is a well known fact that it is very dlflicult to remove fine particles such as hair, ravelings, and other matter from the inner face of a vacuum cleaner bag, and the construction of a has such as is illustrated and described will enable an operator to easily and conveniently reach any portion of the inner face of the bag merely by sliding the hookless fastener in one motion to the lowermost position at the bottom of the bag when the entire bag along one side will fall to an open position.

It should be understood that any type of hookless fastener may be provided and no attempt is being made to claim this specific structure, or any particular type of hookless fastener.

It should also be understood that certain detail changes in the mechanical construction may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention so long as these changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:-

A. vacuum cleaner bag having its lower end formed with a cleaner -engaging portion at one side of the bag, the upper end of the bag being open for the full width thereof and the bag being formed with a longitudinally extending slit extending from the open upper end of the bag throughtheentire length of the'bag at theopposite side thereof from the cleaner-engaging portion, a removable clamp extending the entire width of the upper end of the bag for clamping the front and rear walls of the be: together and holding the upper end of the bag closed, closure means for the open side of the bag including actuating means movable downwardly away from theopenupperendoi'thebagtoopenthebag at its side whereby the bag may be spread to a flattened condition for substantially its entire length and the inner surface of the bag thorough y cleaned, and a sealing flap secured longitudinally of the bag against the inner face thereof and spanning the side slit when the side slit is closed.

JESSIE WALTON 1mm; 25 

